U.S. patent application number 13/163993 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-20 for infrared light distribution pattern control using object detection and electrowetting devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. Invention is credited to FREDERICK F. KUHLMAN, NASSER LUKMANI, DWADASI H.R. SARMA.
Application Number | 20120319016 13/163993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46851259 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120319016 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KUHLMAN; FREDERICK F. ; et
al. |
December 20, 2012 |
INFRARED LIGHT DISTRIBUTION PATTERN CONTROL USING OBJECT DETECTION
AND ELECTROWETTING DEVICES
Abstract
A system for controlling an infrared light distribution pattern
that includes an electrowetting lens arranged proximate to an
infrared light source, and operable to vary a distribution pattern
of infrared light from the infrared light source into an area; an
electrowetting shutter overlaying the electrowetting lens, and
operable to an opaque state where infrared light from the infrared
light source is blocked from projecting into at least a portion of
the area, and operable to a transparent state where infrared light
passes through the electrowetting shutter; an object detector
configured to detect an object in the area; and a controller
configured to receive a detection signal from the object detector,
and operate the electrowetting lens and the electrowetting shutter
in order to control the infrared light distribution pattern based
on a location of the object. The pattern may be uniform or may be
customized for the object being heated.
Inventors: |
KUHLMAN; FREDERICK F.;
(KOKOMO, IN) ; SARMA; DWADASI H.R.; (KOKOMO,
IN) ; LUKMANI; NASSER; (WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI) |
Assignee: |
DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
TROY
MI
|
Family ID: |
46851259 |
Appl. No.: |
13/163993 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
250/505.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 7/04 20130101; H05B
3/0033 20130101; G02B 19/009 20130101; G02B 26/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
250/505.1 |
International
Class: |
H01J 1/52 20060101
H01J001/52 |
Claims
1. A system for controlling an infrared light distribution pattern,
said system comprising: an electrowetting lens arranged proximate
to an infrared light source, and operable to vary a distribution
pattern of infrared light from the infrared light source into an
area; an electrowetting shutter overlaying the electrowetting lens,
and operable to an opaque state where infrared light from the
infrared light source is blocked from projecting into at least a
portion of the area, and operable to a transparent state where
infrared light passes through the electrowetting shutter; an object
detector configured to detect an object in the area; and a
controller configured to receive a detection signal from the object
detector, and operate the electrowetting lens and the
electrowetting shutter in order to control the infrared light
distribution pattern based on a location of the object.
2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is
further configured to control the infrared light distribution
pattern based on an object temperature.
3. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the object
detector is further configured to detect the object temperature,
and the controller is configured to adjust the infrared light
distribution pattern based on a desired temperature of the
object.
4. The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the object
detector is an optical device configured to detect a surface
temperature of the object, and the controller is configured to
adjust the infrared light distribution pattern based on a desired
temperature profile on a surface of the object.
5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system is
configured to control the infrared light distribution pattern
toward a person.
6. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the person is
residing in one of a sauna, a vehicle interior, and a building
space.
7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system is
configured to control the infrared light distribution pattern in a
food service area.
8. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
electrowetting lens comprises a plurality of electrowetting
prisms.
9. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
electrowetting shutter comprises a plurality of electrowetting
elements.
10. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system
further comprises an infrared light source operable to emit
infrared light toward the area.
11. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the infrared
light source comprises a plurality of infrared sources.
12. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the
electrowetting lens comprises a plurality of electrowetting prisms,
and the electrowetting shutter comprises a plurality of
electrowetting elements, wherein each of the electrowetting prisms
and electrowetting elements is associated with a particular
infrared source such that the infrared light emitted by a
particular infrared source is directed toward a particular
electrowetting prism and a particular electrowetting element.
13. A controller for an infrared light distribution pattern control
system configured to selectively illuminate an area with infrared
light, said controller comprising: a lens signal output configured
to control an electrowetting lens operable to vary a infrared light
distribution pattern of infrared light from an infrared light
source into an area; a shutter signal output configured to control
an electrowetting shutter operable to selectively block infrared
light from the infrared light source; an input configured to
receive a detection signal from an object detector operable to
detect a location of an object in the area; and a processor
configured to determine the lens signal and the shutter signal
based on the detection signal in order to control the infrared
light distribution pattern in the area based on the location of the
object.
14. The controller in accordance with claim 13, wherein the wherein
the object detector is also operable to detect an object
temperature of the object, and the controller is further configured
to control the infrared light distribution pattern based on the
object temperature.
15. The controller in accordance with claim 13, wherein the
controller is further configured to control the infrared light
source.
16. A method for controlling an infrared light distribution
pattern, said method comprising: providing an infrared light source
operable to emit infrared light; providing an electrowetting lens
operable to vary a distribution pattern of infrared light from the
infrared light source arriving in an area; providing an
electrowetting shutter operable to selectively block the infrared
light from projecting into at least a portion of the area;
detecting an object location of an object; determining an infrared
light distribution pattern based on the object location; and
operating the electrowetting lens and the electrowetting shutter in
order to control the infrared light distribution pattern in the
area.
17. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein determining the
infrared light distribution pattern is also based on an object
temperature.
18. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein determining the
infrared light distribution pattern is also based on a desired
temperature of the object.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The invention generally relates to controlling an infrared
light distribution pattern of infrared light from an infrared light
source, and more particularly relates to controlling that light
distribution pattern using electrowetting devices and based on
detecting an object proximate to an area potentially illuminated by
the infrared light.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Infrared light or infrared heating may be used to heat an
object. For example it may be used in bathrooms or infrared based
saunas to heat the occupants, or to remove ice from the wings of
aircraft. Infrared light may be used for cooking and heating food
as it predominantly heats the opaque, absorbent objects, rather
than the air around them. Infrared light may also be used by
industrial manufacturing processes for curing of coatings, forming
of plastics, annealing, plastic welding, and print drying. In these
applications, infrared light sources replace convection ovens and
contact heating. Efficiency is achieved by matching the wavelength
of the infrared heater to the absorption characteristics of the
material. A problem is that infrared light sources lack ability to
dynamically shape the emitted infrared light distribution pattern
based on personalization or changing conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a
system for controlling an infrared light distribution pattern is
provided. The system includes an electrowetting lens, an
electrowetting shutter, an object detector, and a controller. The
electrowetting lens is arranged proximate to an infrared light
source. The electrowetting lens is operable to vary a distribution
pattern of infrared light from the infrared light source into an
area. The electrowetting shutter overlays the electrowetting lens.
The electrowetting shutter is operable to an opaque state where
infrared light from the infrared light source is blocked from
projecting into at least a portion of the area, and is operable to
a transparent state where infrared light passes through the
electrowetting shutter. The object detector is configured to detect
an object in the area. The controller is configured to receive a
detection signal from the object detector. The controller is
further configured to operate the electrowetting lens and the
electrowetting shutter in order to control the infrared light
distribution pattern based on a location of the object.
[0004] In another embodiment of the present invention, a controller
for an infrared light distribution pattern control system
configured to selectively illuminate an area is provided. The
controller includes a lens signal output, a shutter signal output,
an input and a processor. The lens signal output is configured to
control an electrowetting lens operable to vary an infrared light
distribution pattern of infrared light from an infrared light
source into an area. The shutter signal output is configured to
control an electrowetting shutter operable to selectively block
infrared light from the infrared light source. The input is
configured to receive a detection signal from an object detector
operable to detect a location of an object in the area. The
processor is configured to determine the lens signal and the
shutter signal based on the detection signal in order to control
the infrared light distribution pattern in the area based on the
location of the object.
[0005] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method
for controlling an infrared light distribution pattern is provided.
The method includes providing an infrared light source operable to
emit infrared light. The method includes providing an
electrowetting lens operable to vary a distribution pattern of
infrared light from the infrared light source arriving in an area.
The method includes providing an electrowetting shutter operable to
selectively block the infrared light from projecting into at least
a portion of the area. The method includes detecting an object
location of an object. The method includes determining an infrared
light distribution pattern based on the object location. The method
includes operating the electrowetting lens and the electrowetting
shutter in order to control the infrared light distribution pattern
in the area.
[0006] Further features and advantages of the invention will appear
more clearly on a reading of the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is given by way of
non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will now be described, by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a functional diagram of an infrared light
distribution pattern control system in accordance with one
embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a building space equipped
with the infrared light distribution pattern control system of FIG.
1 in accordance with one embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a food service area equipped
with the infrared light distribution pattern control system of FIG.
1 in accordance with one embodiment; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for controlling an
infrared light distribution pattern.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a non-limiting example of a system 10 for
controlling an infrared light distribution pattern 12 into an area
14. Controlling the pattern 12 may be desirable to direct heat
energy to increase the temperature of selected portions of the area
14 while maintaining the temperature of or preventing heating other
portions of the area 14, as will be made apparent by the example
applications for the system 10 given below.
[0013] The system 10 may include an infrared (IR) light source 16
operable to emit infrared light as indicated by arrows 18,
hereafter often IR light 18. The IR light source 16 may be any kind
source of IR light, for example an incandescent type IR bulb,
quartz or ceramic type IR heater elements, or an IR light emitting
diode. While FIG. 1 suggests that the infrared light source 16 is
electrically powered, infrared heater elements that burn fuel such
as propane or natural gas may also be suitable. Preferably,
infrared light emitted by the IR light source 16 is directed or
focused in a particular direction as illustrated however an
omnidirectional type light source may be used, and the
omnidirectional source may be accompanied by a reflector (not
shown).
[0014] The system 10 may include an electrowetting lens 20 arranged
proximate to the IR light source 16 so the IR light 18 can pass
through the lens 20 and towards the area 14. In general,
electrowetting lenses, also known as liquid lenses, contain two
fluids: an aqueous fluid, commonly referred to as the water layer
and indicated as water 22; and a hydrophobic dielectric fluid,
commonly referred to as the oil layer and indicated as oil 24. In
general, the shape and/or angle of a water/oil interface 26 can be
manipulated by applying a voltage to electrodes arranged about the
electrowetting lens 20. If the IR light 18 is incident on the
water/oil interface 26 at a non-normal angle as suggested in some
instances, and the water 22 has a different index of refraction
than the oil 24, then the IR light 18 may be refracted and so
change direction as illustrated. In the non-limiting example in
FIG. 1, the electrowetting lens 20 is illustrated as having six
electrowetting prisms 30A-F. It will be recognized that the
electrowetting lens 20 may include many more than six
electrowetting prisms and the prisms may be arranged in a
two-dimensional array. It should be recognized by those in the art
that the index of refraction of the water 22 and the oil 24 for
infrared light may be different than the index of refraction for
visible light, and so the voltages applied to the lens 20 to vary
the infrared light distribution pattern 12 into an area 14 may not
be the same as the voltages necessary for controlling a
distribution pattern of visible light into the area 14.
[0015] The system 10 may also include an electrowetting shutter 32
overlaying the electrowetting lens 20. FIG. 1 illustrates the
shutter 32 and lens 20 as being separated, however this is only for
the purpose of illustration and not limitation. The shutter 32 is
similar to the lens 20 in that the shape of an oil region 34
surrounded by a water region 36 is manipulated by the application
of an electric field to the shutter 32. In this non-limiting
example, the shutter 32 is illustrated as having six electrowetting
elements 38A-F. It will be recognized that the electrowetting lens
20 may include many more than six electrowetting elements and the
elements may be arranged in a two-dimensional array. Furthermore,
the number of prisms 30 forming the lens 20 is not necessarily the
name as the number of elements 38 forming the shutter 32.
[0016] The main difference is that the oil region 34 in the shutter
32 is opaque and so generally blocks infrared light 18 if the
electric field applied to an element is such that the oil region 34
is spread across a face of an element as illustrated by element
38D. As such, each element 38A may be independently operable to an
opaque state where infrared light 18 from the infrared light source
16 is blocked from projecting into at least a portion of the area
14, as illustrated by element 38D. Each element 38 may also be
independently operable to a transparent state where infrared light
18 passes through the electrowetting shutter 32, as illustrated by
elements 38A-C and 38E-F. It should be noted that the oil regions
34 in elements 38A-C are substantially crowded into one end of the
element such that the maximum amount of IR light 18 passes through
elements 38A-C. In contrast, elements 38E-F are illustrated as
being about half obstructed by the oil region 34, and so only a
portion of the IR light 18 passes through the elements 38E-F. The
oil region 34 may comprise carbon and so may appear to be black in
color. In another embodiment, the oil region 34 may comprises
Galinstan and so reflect any IR light back toward the IR light
source 16. This reflected IR light may be redirected by a reflector
(not shown) if present so that the IR light eventually passes
through some other section if the shutter 32.
[0017] The system 10 may include an object detector 40 configured
to detect an object 42 in the area 14. The non-limiting example in
FIG. 1 suggests that the object detector 40 may be an optical
device such as a camera. However, it will be recognized that for
simply detecting the presence of an object, a contact pressure
sensor, a light beam through the area, or many other ways of
detecting the presence of an object would be suitable. The object
42 is illustrated as a regular shape only for the purpose of
explanation. The object 42 may be a person, a plate containing
food, a sauna, an outdoor walkway at risk of accumulating ice or
snow, a part with a coating wet material in need of drying/curing,
or anything that may benefit from being exposed to IR light having
a particular IR light distribution pattern. If it is desired to
know more than simply the presence of the object 42, the object
detector 40 may be any of several suitable devices such as a camera
capable of registering ultraviolet, visible, and/or infrared light,
a electromagnetic wave type radar unit, a laser radar unit, an
infrared detector, an ultrasonic transceiver, or any other type of
device capable of detecting the presence of an object in or near
the area 14.
[0018] The system 10 may include a controller configured to receive
a detection signal 46 from the object detector 40. The detection
signal 46 may communicate a simple binary signal (e.g. true/false)
if the object detector 40 is a switch, or may communicate
additional information such as a temperature of the object 42. The
temperature of the object 42 may be based on a signal from a
temperature sensor (not shown) in contact with the object 42, or a
non-contacting infrared sensing device. As such, the controller 44
may be further configured to control the infrared light
distribution pattern 12 based on an object temperature of the
object 42. If the object detector 40 is an imaging type device,
such as an infrared camera capable of determining a surface
temperature of the object 42, the controller 44 may be configured
to adjust the light distribution pattern based on a desired
temperature of the object 42 so that the temperature of the object
42 is uniform over the surface of the object. Alternatively, the
controller 44 may be configured adjust the infrared light
distribution pattern 12 based on a desired temperature profile on a
surface of the object 42 so one portion of the object 42 has a
different temperature or receives a different amount of infrared
energy than another portion.
[0019] The controller 44 may also be configured to output a lens
signal 48 from a lens signal output 52 effective to operate the
electrowetting lens 20, and output a shutter signal 50 from a
shutter signal output 54 effective to operate the electrowetting
shutter 32. In general, the signals to control the lens 20 and the
shutter 32 are a variety of electrode voltage applied to electrodes
on the lens 20 and the shutter 32 to operate the lens 20 and the
shutter 32 as described above. By operating the lens 20 and the
shutter 32, the controller 44 may control the infrared light
distribution pattern 12 based on a location and or temperature of
the object 42. In one embodiment, the IR light source 16 include a
plurality of infrared sources (16A, 16B) that may be connected to a
controller 44 so that the controller 44 can operate the IR light
source 16 to be OFF, and so not emit IR light, or ON, and so emit
IR light, some infrared sources ON and some infrared sources OFF,
or operate the IR light source 16 at a reduced infrared light
output level.
[0020] The controller 44 may include a processor 52 such as a
microprocessor or other control circuitry as should be evident to
those in the art. The controller 44 may include memory (not shown),
including non-volatile memory, such as electrically erasable
programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) for storing one or more
routines, thresholds and captured data. The one or more routines
may be executed by the processor to perform steps for processing
signals received by the controller 44 and outputting control signal
for the lens 20 and the shutter 32 as described herein. As such,
the controller 44 may be configured to operate the electrowetting
lens 20 in order to control the size, location, and intensity the
infrared light distribution pattern 12 into the area 14 based on
the location of the object 42 indicated by the object detector 40.
The operation of the system 10 will now be further explained by way
of non-limiting examples.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a non-limiting example of a space inside
a building, in this case a family room 60 in a home, equipped with
the system 10. The controller 44 and associated signals 46, 48, and
50 are not shown only for the purpose of simplifying the
illustration. A father 62 is residing proximate to a first IR light
source 16A, a mother is residing proximate a second IR light source
16B, and a child 66 is residing proximate a third IR light source
16C. The object detector 40 in this example is an infrared camera
generally configured to view the family room 60 and indicate the
surface temperatures of the three persons (62, 64, 66) present in
the family room. In this non-limiting example the controller 44 may
determine that the father 62 has a surface temperature greater than
a first threshold programmed into the controller 44 for a person
residing proximate to the first IR light source 16A, and so
operates a first shutter 32A to an opaque state so little or no
infrared light from the first IR light source 16A is projected onto
the father 62. The controller may further determine that the
surface temperature of the mother 64 and the child 66 are below
preprogrammed second and third thresholds, and so a second and
third shutter 32B-C and a second and third lens 20B-C are operated
so infrared light is projected onto the mother 64 and the child 66
by the second and third light sources 16B-C respectively. If, for
example, the child 66 leaves the family room 60, the controller 44
may operate the third shutter 32C so little or no infrared light is
projected from the third lens 20C. The IR light source 16 in this
non-limiting example is illustrated as three separate IR sources
(16A-C). However it should be appreciated that the IR light source
16 could alternatively be a wide area radiant heat panel able to
provide enough IR light for the entire family room 60. For this
case, multiple lenses (20A-C) and shutters (32A-C) may be arranged
about the radiant heat panel so the amount of IR light received by
each person in the family room 60 can be independently controlled.
Adjusting the various thresholds and turning the system on and off
may be by way of a remote control unit similar to those used for
television remote controls.
[0022] Another example of how the system 10 could be used is now
described, but not illustrated with a drawing. A sauna may be
equipped with the system 10 so that the temperature experienced by
different individuals in the sauna can be independently controlled.
Furthermore, the system may be configured so that different
portions of an individual's body may receive different amounts of
IR light. For example, a person may desire that heir feet and legs
receive more IR light than their heads, and so various arrangements
of lenses and shutters may be operated to provide an appropriate IR
light distribution pattern.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates another non-limiting example of a use for
the system 10. In this example a plate of food 70 may be kept warm
while waiting to be served. The plate of food 70 is illustrated as
including a crab 72 and chilled oysters 74. It may be desirable to
keep the crab 72 warmed, but not increase the temperature of the
oysters 74. The object detector 40 may provide an image signal to
the controller that corresponds to an image of the plate of food.
The controller 44 may be configured to analyze the image signal
from the object detector and direct IR light only towards objects
having a temperature greater than some threshold. As such, the
system 10 may direct IR light toward the crab 72, but also avoid
projecting IR light onto the oysters 74.
[0024] Another example of how the system 10 could be used is now
described, but not illustrated with a drawing. A manufacturing
system may be equipped with the system 10 so that a curing
temperature of a coating applied to the object 42 may controlled.
Furthermore, the system may be configured so that as the coating
dries or cures, the IR light distribution pattern 12 can be
modified so as to minimize energy usage while assuring that the
coating is completely dried or cured. For example, the object
detector may be used to determine an optical characteristic such as
emissivity in order to determine if the coating is dried or
cured.
[0025] Referring again to FIG. 1, the infrared light source 16 may
be formed of a plurality of infrared sources 16A-B. The
electrowetting lens 20 may be formed of a plurality of
electrowetting prisms 30A-F. The electrowetting shutter 32 may be
formed of a plurality of electrowetting elements 38A-F. The prisms
and elements may be arranged so each of the electrowetting prisms
30A-F and electrowetting elements 38A-F is associated with a
particular infrared source such that the infrared light emitted by
a particular infrared source is directed toward a particular
electrowetting prism and a particular electrowetting element. This
arrangement provides for the IR light 18 from a single light source
to be selectively distributed over the area 14, or focused on a
relatively small portion of the area 14 as illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 for controlling an infrared
light distribution pattern. The method 400 may include the step of
providing an infrared light source 16 operable to emit infrared
light 18. The particular type of source selected may be based on a
desire for a particular band of wavelengths of IR light, or may be
selected based on the amount of infrared energy needed for the
application.
[0027] Step 410, PROVIDE ELECTROWETTING LENS, may include providing
an electrowetting lens 20 operable to vary an infrared light
distribution pattern 12 of infrared light 18 from the infrared
light source 16 arriving in an area 14.
[0028] Step 420, PROVIDE ELECTROWETTING SHUTTER, may include
providing an electrowetting shutter 32 operable to selectively
block the infrared light 18 from projecting into at least a portion
of the area 14.
[0029] Step 430, DETECT OBJECT LOCATION, may include detecting an
object location of an object 42.
[0030] Step 440, DETERMINE LIGHT DISTRIBUTION PATTERN, may include
determining an infrared light distribution pattern 12 based on the
object location. The step 440 may also include determining the
infrared light distribution pattern 12 based on an object
temperature. The step 440 may also include determining the infrared
light distribution pattern 12 based on a desired temperature of the
object 42.
[0031] Step 450, OPERATE ELECTROWETTING LENS, may include
outputting a lens signal 48 suitable to cause appropriate voltages
to be applied to the lens 20 in order to establish a desired
infrared light distribution pattern 12.
[0032] Step 460, OPERATE ELECTROWETTING SHUTTER, may include
outputting a shutter signal 50 suitable to cause appropriate
voltages to be applied to the shutter 32. As such, the
electrowetting lens 20 and the electrowetting shutter 32 may be
operated in order to control the infrared light distribution
pattern 12 in the area 14.
[0033] While this invention has been described in terms of the
preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited,
but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that
follow.
* * * * *